By World Licence 
Harris Reed has done it again. For his ninth eponymous collection, the British-American designer delivered a spectacle of rare intensity, blending fashion, art, and performance within the grand Duveen Galleries of Tate Britain. Known for his unapologetic theatricality and his relentless exploration of femininity in all its forms, Reed has this time immersed himself in the world of antique furniture, drawing inspiration from the interiors of Victorian salons to extract a vision of fashion that is both dreamlike and architectural.
The walls, adorned with their period wood paneling, seemed to resonate with the monumental silhouettes that paraded under strobe lights, creating an atmosphere both mystical and dramatic. Harris Reed, who has often delved into British costume and décor history, took his exploration even further this season. After stripping wallpaper and sourcing lace curtains in past collections, he now ventured inside the furniture itself, deconstructing armchairs and sofas to reinvent them as gowns and structured corsets.
Florence Pugh, Reed’s muse and a prominent figure in contemporary cinema, opened the show in a sculptural corset gown with a hood and sharp contours, embodying a modern-day oracle. Her entrance was accompanied by these words: “It is only when we are no longer fearless that we can begin to create.” A statement that perfectly aligns with Reed’s philosophy, for whom fashion is a space of freedom and constant risk-taking.
The collection itself stands as a manifesto of this radical approach. Silhouettes are exaggerated, volumes are theatrical, and textures are luxurious. Reed plays on the contrast between the weight of antique furniture and the lightness of movement, between the opulence of tradition and the energy of rebellion. Corsets—one of the designer’s signatures—are more present than ever, sculpting figures reminiscent of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, while voluminous sleeves and dramatic draping evoke a reinvented baroque royalty for the 21st century.
Musically, the show was set to an orchestral reinterpretation of Metallica, adding an electrifying tension to the atmosphere. This fusion of classicism and rock perfectly embodies Harris Reed’s work—drawing from history and reinventing it with a resolutely modern energy.
This Fall 2025 collection also marks a significant milestone in Reed’s evolution, as he skillfully balances his own brand with his role as creative director at Nina Ricci. At the French fashion house, he continues to explore a liberated and flamboyant femininity, while his personal label allows for deeper experimentation—a constant dialogue between past and present, between art and fashion, between costume and individuality.
Harris Reed once again proves that he is far more than just a designer—he is a fashion director, a visual storyteller who transforms each collection into an unforgettable moment. His Tate Britain showcase, straddling tradition and subversion, is the ultimate testament to his visionary approach.
